East Division Semifinal

Minnesota Swarm 8-8
(Home 3-5 Road 5-3)

at
Buffalo Bandits 11-5
(Home 6-2 Road 5-3)

April 23rd, 2006, 1:00 pm CST
HSBC Arena, Buffalo, New York

Series
Overall: Buffalo 5-1
Home Overall: Buffalo 3-0
Road Overall: Buffalo 2-1
This Season: Buffalo 2-1
Home This Season: Buffalo 1-0
Road This Season: Buffalo 1-1

This season the series has the following results this year:

• February 18th in Buffalo, Buffalo 14-9
• March 4th in Buffalo, Minnesota 11-8
• March 24th in Minnesota, Buffalo 13-11

1. Buffalo Bandits 11-5
2. Rochester Knighthawks 9-7
3. Toronto Rock 8-8
4. MINNESOTA SWARM 8-8
5. Philadelphia Wings 8-8

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The Swarm will make their first ever playoff appearance this weekend in Buffalo against the East Division champion Bandits. The Bandits have won the championship in 1992, 1993 & 1996. "Offense wins games,DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS". A new cliché, first coined by Swarm Captain #50 Ryan Cousins(2g 6a), is the mantra for this year's team. The Swarm in 2005 gave up 14.44 goals per game but this season that total was reduced by nearly four goals (10.69). They acquired more speed and youth for the defense this season with players like #16 Noah Talbot (0g 8a), #18 Andrew Biers (4g 8a) and #39 Mark Miyashita (4g 10a). Assistant Coach Paul St. John took charge of the defense this year and has installed a consistent and concentrated plan of action to attack opposing offenses compared to the make it up as it goes system prevalent last year. Of course, most of the defense is back from last year and through experience gained and familiarity with each other, they have grown into a standout defensive unit. The defense will have to perform like they did on March 4th when they held the Bandits to eight goals. That means harassing #11 John Tavares (32g 53a), the league's all-time leading scorer, and #9 Mark Steenhuis (34g 23a), who is considered one of the best all around players in the league.

The Swarm offense is looking to improve greatly after last week's second half inadequacies in the 13-8 loss to the Portland Lumberjax. With #11 Kelly Hall (16g 9a) out for the season, a big part of the offense, especially on the power play, will have to be overcome. In the Portland game, the offense was often only get one shot per possession when they weren't trying to get out from a man-down situation. The offense starts with the Swarm's leading scorer #44 Ryan Ward (19g 47a) who had the breakout season most everyone expected this year. #19 Chad Culp (20g 35a) has shown great improvement over his first year with the Swarm as he often can be seen taking on the opponent one on one to the net. #22 Kasey Beirnes, who only played one game last year because of injury with the Arizona Sting, was acquired in essence for Craig Conn in a trade in the off season. Hard work in the off season to rehabilitate has paid off for Beirnes, who came back strong this year with a new team. While the Swarm have a great defense, it is second statistically to their opponents this weekend, the Buffalo Bandits. #6 Chris White (0g 8a) has emerged this year as one of the top defensive players in the league. The Bandits play physical on defense with #3 Billy Dee Smith (5g 1a) and #17 Kyle Laverty (0g 5a) often getting under the opponents skin.

The Swarm's two-headed monster in goal has been the last line of defense this season. #93 Nick Patterson (6-2 10.40 GAA .790 Save %) emerged this year as the best young goaltender in the league while #1 Matt Disher (2-6 10.92 GAA .773 Save %) came into the season in better shape and his effort paid off in increased performance this year. Disher was in goal for the Swarm's win earlier this season against the Bandits while Patterson was in goal the other two teams. The educated guess would be Disher to start, but I think Patterson will get the nod. The Bandits had #30 Steve Dietrich (10-4 9.97 GAA .808 Save %) who had a fantastic season in which he led all goaltenders in wins, GAA and save %. To keep teams under ten goals a game is quite an accomplishment in this league of sharpshooters, but Dietrich showed it could be done.

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The fans in Buffalo are excited about their team this year as they won seven of their last eight to gain home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. They will pack the HSBC Arena to give the Swarm all the grief they can handle. The Swarm have beaten the Bandits in Buffalo this year and feel they match up well with them. They are focused so much so that #77 Riley Kemp (3g 7a) told me last night at the Swarm Season Ticket Party that he was not going to celebrate his 24th birthday (4/19/82) until after this weekend's game. Shocking. What is also shocking to some, is that the Swarm will win this game 10-9 to end the Bandits' season prematurely.

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Swarm Righties
#44 Ryan Ward
#22 Kasey Beirnes
#17 Sean Pollock

Swarm Lefties
#19 Chad Culp
#40 Jamie Taylor
#15 Spencer Martin
#73 Dean Hill
#8 Rory McDade
#11 Kelly Hall

Swarm Defense
#50 Ryan Cousins
#23 Jon Sullivan
#10 Brock Boyle
#55 Michael Kilby
#77 Riley Kemp
#12 Eric Pacey
#16 Noah Talbot
#18 Andrew Biers
#33 Shawn Summerfield
#47 Travis Hill
#28 Nolan Heavenor

Swarm Face Off
#39 Mark Miyashita (91 of 207, 44.0%)

Swarm Goalies
#93 Nick Patterson
#1 Matt Disher

Swarm General Manager
Marty O'Neill

Swarm Head Coach
Adam Mueller

Swarm Assistant Head Coaches
Paul St. John
Derek Moffat

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Bandits Righties
#7 Jon Harasym (former Swarm)
#15 Dan Teat
#99 Delby Powless
#97 Bryan Kazarian
#12 Kyle Schmelze

Bandits Lefties
#11 John Tavares
#54 Jason Crosbie
#93 Kim Squire
#81 Roger Vyse

Bandits Two-Way Player
#9 Mark Steenhuis (R)

Bandits Defense
#17 Kyle Laverty
#3 Billy Dee Smith
#32 Chris Langdale
#16 Rich Kilgour
#23 Pat McCready
#27 Kyle Couling
#6 Chris White
#2 Troy Bonterre
#5 Clay Hill
#77 Jeff Shattler

Bandits Face Off
#72 Cory Bomberry (142 of 310, 45.8%)

Bandits Goalies
#30 Steve Dietrich
#29 Ken Montour

Bandits General Manager & Head Coach
Darris Kilgour

Bandits Assistant Head Coaches
Troy Cordingley
Duane Jacobs

The winner of this game will play the winner of the Toronto-Rochester game in Rochester on April 22nd, 2006 in Rochester. If Buffalo wins they will host the game. If Minnesota wins, they will travel to the victor's arena.